VDS, a developer of broadcast automation software, content design and plug-in products, has announced Streamliner, a new system for controlling streaming media in sync with linear broadcasts.

VDS will present Streamliner for the first time at NAB 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada, in booth N3734. Powered by VDS Promotor, Streamliner solves one of the biggest challenges for real-time streaming applications: Automating and synchronising the triggers that control and replace media segments in real time, allowing only the proper and approved content to makes its way to the Internet.

As a program is broadcast, Streamliner automatically generates SCTE104 commands that are precisely timed to the program content. With exact offsets from the start of program, start of commercial, end of programme, or anywhere in between, Streamliner provides accurate and reconcilable content control using industry standard SCTE 104 messages synchronised to any event on the automation playlist. A dynamic interface to station automation and its ability to react to automation changes in real time means that Streamliner is always in sync with that playlist, even if events are edited manually. The system also knows what clips are playing and any metadata associated with those clips. All of this is accomplished with few or no changes to the existing automation playlists and without the need to insert a lot of secondary events.

Streamliner’s suite of modules allow for the application of rules and conditions to the generation of SCTE 104 messages to be interpreted by a stream encoder/ injector, resulting in the insertion of a variety of trigger messages (SCTE 35) including start and end points for splices.

Streamliner can generate standard SCTE 104 messages, or messages that contain specific user-created payloads. These custom payloads can provide broadcasters with very specific and proprietary actions for splice events. Messages can be generated at exact time offsets from the start of clips, the end of clips or anywhere in between as well as in relation to any other event on the automation playlist.

Streamliner’s rules-based engine provides for the application of deterministic information within the SCTE 104 messages, which in turn could instruct the downstream splicer to play alternate content from an ad server, for example.

Flexible and extensible, Streamliner can also generate and send COM port data as well as TCP/IP data, allowing for other types of synchronization in addition to online streaming media.

Streamliner compatible modules also provide support for button boxes and other similar interfaces, such as the DNF GTP-32, X-keys, and other manual control interfaces, including custom protocols. These modules can offer bi-directional communication with interface devices, thereby providing for interaction with and monitoring of Streamliner’s triggers with support for manual intervention, if desired.

“We are very excited about Streamliner and what it can do for broadcasters who wish to synchronize their streaming content with their linear broadcast,” said Larry Mincer, President of VDS. “Already field deployed in the US, Streamliner is unique in providing broadcasters with the ability to apply logic and rules to what and when stream splices are made and what content is retained or replaced in the stream.”